Star-Studded John Holt Tribute – A Feature of 2014 “Genuine Gold” Thanksgiving Reggae Showcase

SOUTH FLORIDA – Following on his commanding performance last November 2013, John Holt was to be part of a brilliant golden conjunction of Reggae Icons shining at the second presentation of Jamaica Awareness’  “Genuine Gold” Series; the annual Reggae showcase specifically created to highlight and honor the exceptional talents of those classic Performers of Reggae – particularly those of the vintage and quality of a John Holt – who have been genuinely golden in the ears, minds, and hearts of the world, let alone Jamaica.

This year’s “Genuine Gold” Reggae Concert will naturally –and ‘definitively,’ according to Sydney Roberts, CEO of Jamaica Awareness Inc.– be the kind of musical occasion on which the words “Fitting Tribute” –to the Best of The Artists, and to The Art– can be properly applied.

Along with Fellow-Paragon, singer-songwriter Bob Andy, another irreplaceable musical giant himself, Errol Dunkley (Black Cinderella, Your Love Is Amazing); reggae music’s original Mr. Smooth, Ken Boothe; Freddy McGregor, and Boris Gardiner, will also be saying musical fare-thee-wells to their departed contemporary at “Genuine Gold.” Also performing with these reggae legends will be R&B group Blue Magic (Sideshow, Just Don’t Wanna Be Lonely), and Special Guest, young songstress Tanika Roberts, representing reggae in the Jamaican diaspora.

Time-proven ‘singers and players of instruments,’ in the form of perennial favorites Lloyd Parkes & Friends, will share the stage and this Homegoing-with-Thanksgiving with their fellow cultural ambassadors, with performances sure to delight as well as move South Florida reggae lovers.

Reggae Queen Marcia Griffiths, will be presented with a special award in ‘Recognition and Thanks-giving’ for her presence, and her serenading and exhilarating global audiences with her own enduring, joyous, dignified, danceable fashion and style, for half-a-century.

In a statement from Jamaica Awareness Inc., North America’s pioneering reggae concert promoters for the past 30 years –of shows on which John also performed since 1987– the organization offers this in offering condolences to John’s Family, as well as ‘to all reggae lovers and people of goodwill everywhere’: “We agree with superlative singer-songwriter Bob Andy, fellow Paragon, in his opinion that –among other special landmarks established by John Holt on the Jamaican and world cultural scene– John was indeed the unique balladeer ‘voice of our generation’ of Jamaicans.

“In fact,” says Roberts, “John has been a most signal Jamaican voice; one that has spanned the spaces across generations, cultural eras, international boundaries, and musical genres and styles.”

It was John Holt with The Paragons who boldly inveigled a newly-independent Jamaica with “Let’s Go and Have Some Fun, On The Beach…” And just like that, ‘the party was truly on’ for lovers of Jamaica’s culture, people, music, and dancing. That irresistibly upbeat invitation –following The Wailers’ earlier lament “Long Time…No Nice Time”– unleashed the naturally fun-loving-though-mostly-restrained conservatism of Jamaicans in ways that still are reverberating today, half-a-century later. John Holt is genuinely symbolic of a passing era.

In this great future, on Saturday, November 29, 2014, (Reception at 6 pm, show at 7 pm) at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts, 2855 Coral Springs Drive, lovers of classic ska, rocksteady, and reggae will have many reasons as well as the opportunity to recall, reminisce, and fittingly recognize what Jamaican popular music, and its best proponents such as John Holt, mean to so many around the world.

For more information about “Genuine Gold” or Jamaica Awareness Inc., contact 305-405-2712 or www.jamaware.org.